115-day Dry Cargo Time Charter

Contract N3220526C1205, awarded by the Military Sealift Command Norfolk Strategic Sealift Program Support Office, is a firm-fixed-price agreement for a 115-day dry cargo time charter. The contractor is required to provide a vessel capable of transporting containerized ammunition and hazardous materials in compliance with 49 CFR 176.170 and the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code. The scope of work includes maintaining operational security, providing a dedicated secure space meeting Open Storage Secret standards for handling classified material up to the Secret level, and ensuring secure communications via SIPRNET. The vessel must be equipped with necessary lashing gear and spreader bars, and the contractor must provide certified security personnel who adhere to strict use-of-force policies and hold required clearances. Award was determined based on a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable process, with technical acceptability serving as a threshold criterion and VISA priority used as a tiebreaker. Performance is subject to rigorous government inspections of the hull, engineering spaces, and cargo handling equipment prior to delivery and throughout the charter period. Administrative requirements include electronic invoicing through Wide Area WorkFlow and strict adherence to Service Contract Act wage determinations for maritime occupations. The contract incorporates various FAR and DFARS clauses, including preferences for privately owned U.S.-flag commercial vessels and stringent operational security protocols to protect critical information from foreign ownership, control, or influence.